OKC Thunder | Game #59 Preview: Phoenix Suns

Tip-Off: 7 PM CT

Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal

Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game

The All-Star Break is over, the Oklahoma City Thunder is back in action tonight, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set to make his return after missing the last 10 games with a sprained ankle. The home stretch is finally here, and the Thunder is set to finish with a losing record for the second straight season and just the third time in franchise history.

Tonight the Thunder hosts the Phoenix Suns who are absolutely dominating the Western Conference with a 48-10 record. The Suns have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament for the playoffs, but with a 6.5-game lead on the Golden State Warriors, they have a very good chance of clinching the top seed in the West.

The Thunder has lost to the Suns twice so far this season, both in Phoenix, and neither game had a particularly close finish. Chris Paul is set to miss the rest of the regular season for Phoenix with a fracture in his right thumb, but the Suns are still a well-rounded team that should continue to find success.

Phoenix is a double-digit favorite against the Thunder tonight, and rightfully so, but I would not be surprised in the least if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came out with something to prove and helped OKC keep this one close.

Projected Starters

Thunder

  • PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • SG: Josh Giddey
  • SF: Aaron Wiggins
  • PF: Darius Bazley
  • C: Isaiah Roby

Suns

  • PG: Aaron Holiday
  • SG: Devin Booker
  • SF: Mikal Bridges
  • PF: Jae Crowder
  • C: Deandre Ayton

Injuries

Thunder

  • Luguentz Dort is OUT (strained left shoulder).
  • Ty Jerome is OUT (left hip soreness).
  • Mike Muscala is OUT (right ankle soreness).
  • Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is OUT (third metatarsal fracture in right foot).
  • Kenrich Williams is OUT (sprained right knee).

Suns

  • Frank Kaminsky is OUT (stress reaction in right knee).
  • Chris Paul is OUT (avulsion fracture in right thumb).
  • Cameron Payne is OUT (sprained right wrist).
  • Dario Saric is OUT (right ACL tear).

Head-to-Head

  • Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 30-17 against the Suns (17-5 at home, 13-12 on the road).
  • Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Suns 9 times, tied once, and lost 3 times.
  • The Thunder lost the season series with the Suns 1-2 a year ago (0-1 at home, 1-1 on the road).
  • The Thunder is 0-2 against the Suns so far this season (0-0 at home, 0-2 on the road).

Game Notes

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